Lacquer, or sơn mài, is more than just a surface treatment in Vietnam — it is an art of patience, memory, and ancestral rhythm. Born from the sap of the sơn tree (Rhus succedanea) native to the north, this ancient craft transforms humble materials into shimmering heirlooms, layered over weeks and months by hand.

Unlike other lacquer traditions in Asia, Vietnamese sơn mài leans into subtlety. It doesn’t shout. It glows. Each piece holds hidden depth, built by slow-burning labor: a wooden base, dozens of layers of natural resin, and meticulous polishing to reveal buried treasures — fragments of eggshell, gold leaf, or mother-of-pearl, inlaid like memory.

This isn’t just painting. It is a ritual of time.

GIVE Workshop: Brushing History into Young Hands

At GIVE, we believe culture must be lived — not stored behind glass. To keep sơn mài alive for future generations, we collaborate with renowned lacquer artist Pham Công Toan to guide children through the magic of this ancestral art.

In our workshops, young hands learn to wait, to watch, to polish. They practice the slow layering of lacquer on bamboo boards, turning patience into color and texture. Under Toan’s gentle guidance, they discover that even broken eggshells can become constellations, and that tradition isn’t something old — it’s something you can hold.

This is not merely an art class. It’s a rite of remembrance.

A way for the young to connect — not just with lacquer — but with the spirit of Vietnamese craftsmanship.

For interior designers and hoteliers, GIVE also curates lacquer artworks that bring this heritage into space — custom panels, décor pieces, and accent artworks made with natural resin, hand-polished luster, and local soul. Each item is crafted with care, made to reflect not only light, but lineage.

Invite tradition into your lobby or suite.

Let your walls whisper stories that took time to tell.

Every layer seals time. Every shine tells a story.